Programmed sheet distributing device

ABSTRACT

A deflector of a sheet distributing mechanism is positioned at selected sheet-receivers or stations in response to the passage of sheets past the deflector. A manually programmed crossbar switch determines the preselected numbers of sheets to be distributed to any one of several sheet-receivers. A sheet stepping switch and a station stepping switch join the programmed crossbars of the crossbar switch when the programmed number of sheets have been received at the selected sheet-receiver so as to index the deflector to the next sheet-receiver. The number of sheets and the number of sheet-receivers programmed may be varied, sheet-receivers may be skipped or the device may operate as a collator by distributing a single sheet at a time to one or more of the sheet-receivers. An anticipating device is employed on the station stepping switch to permit smooth operation of the distributing mechanism when several sheet-receivers are to be skipped.

United States Patent [191 Snellman et al.

11] 3,772,970 [451 *Nov. 20,1973

[ PROGRAMMED SHEET DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Inventors: Donald L. Snellman, Seattle; Ernest D. Davis, Richmond Beach; Dale R. Johnson, Seattle, all of Wash.

Norfin, Inc., Seattle, Wash.

May 10, 1971 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Sept. 13, 1988,

has been disclaimed.

Appl. No.: 141,983

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 829,274, June 2, 1969, Pat. No. 3,604,321.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1964 Broadhead, Jr 200/11 C X 4/1954 Aicher 200/11 TC X 3/1962 Rhodes 200/11 K X 10/1962 Singies 307/115 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,368,947 6/1964 France 200/11 TC Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Seed, Berry, Dowrey and Cross [57] ABSTRACT A deflector of a sheet distributing mechanism is positioned at selected sheet-receivers or stations in response to the passage of sheets past the deflector. A manually programmed crossbar switch determines the preselected numbers of sheets to be distributed to any one of several sheet-receivers. A sheet stepping switch and a station stepping switch join the programmed crossbars of the crossbar switch when the programmed number of sheets have been received at the selected sheet-receiver so as to index the deflector to the next sheet-receiver. The number of sheets and the number of sheet-receivers programmed may be varied, sheet-receivers may be skipped or the device may operate as a collator by distributing a single sheet at a time to one or more of the sheet-receivers. An anticipating device is employed on the station stepping switch to permit smooth operation of the distributing mechanism when several sheet-receivers are to be skipped.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PA'IENTEUNUVZU 191s 3.772.970 SHEET 1 CF 3 DONALD L.SNELLMAN ERNEST D. DAVIS DALE R. JOHNSON INVENTOR$ BY @mww ATTORNEYS PAlhNTEUnuvrzo ms SHEET 2 CF 3 m E i i R at m 0 l 6M L. lm fl RE V R 2 m t D |LI w 3 L 3 m @v A R .l. n wL cw f y R L P m w m S S 4W0T0 CELL INDEX SWITCH BRAKE SET mR-IS U COUNT COMPLETE S- J. lPROOF MROOF SOLENOID 42 R-42-2 jl CLUTCH 33 BRAKE 34 m DONALD L. SNELLIWAN ERNEST o. DAVIS DALE R. JOHNSON BY INVENTORS w w ifii ATTORNEYS PROGRAMMED SHEET DISTRIBUTING DEVICE This application is a Division of Ser. No.: 829,274, filed June 2, 1969 now US. Pat. No. 3,604,32l.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to sorting devices and, more particularly, to sorting devices that may be programmed to distribute selected numbers of sheets to selected sheet-receivers.

2. Summary of the Invention Means is provided for delivering successive numbers of sheets to a distributing mechanism for distribution into a plurality of sheet-receivers. The passage of a sheet into one or the sheet-receivers is sensed and the signal received therefrom is directed to a program means which passes the signal according to the program to an indexing mechanism for distributing the sheets to another sheet-receiver. The program means may be set for collating, that is, delivering a single sheet to each of several sheet-receivers, or sorting selected numbers of sheets to selected ones of the sheetreceivers. In addition, the program means may be set to skip various sheet-receivers which is done with an anticipation device to prevent jerky skipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The distributing mechanism of the instant invention is best illustrated in FIG. I and includes a pair of conveyor tapes 12 which carry sheets of copy S or the like around a pair of upper sheaves 14 and down a vertical run past a plurality of vertically spaced sheetreceivers or stations 16. A deflecting assembly 18 includes a deflector 20 that is positioned in the path of the sheets carried by the conveyor tapes l2 and deflects the sheets into one of the various sheet-receivers. The deflector is moved along the vertical row of sheetreceivers by a pair of chains 22 that pass over upper sprockets 24 that are keyed on an upper shaft 26. The upper shaft has an extension 28 for a purpose to be later described. The deflector assembly 18 also includes a lower shaft 30 to which is keyed a pair oflower sprockets 31 that carry the chains 22. The lower shaft 30 is rotated, thus positioning the deflector 20, by a continuously running motor M34 operatively connected to the lower shaft 30 by a clutch 33 and a brake 34. The brake and clutch are connected to a shaft 36 which, for a purpose to be later described, is keyed a cam 37 having diametrically spaced cam lobes 37a.

A brief description of the operation of the distributing mechanism 10 for distributing sheets into the sheetreceiver 16 and indexing the deflector 20 will now be described. A light 39 casts a beam to a photocell 40 with the beam being broken each time a sheet S is deflected into a sheet-receiver 16. For single sheet operation, that is collating, the breaking of the beam by the sheet S and the resumption of the beam after the sheet has passed energizes the circuit for engaging the clutch and disengaging the brake to index the deflector to the next sheet-receiver. A switch 42 having an arm which rides on the cam 36 is activated when contacted by one of the lobes 37a to sense the position of the deflector 20 at the next sheet-receiver and to disengage the clutch and engage the brake. A switch 8-3] which may be positioned at the top or bottom of the deflector assembly 18 depending on the direction of travel of the deflector 20, is operated at the end of each cycle. In the embodiment described the switch 8-31 is at the top of the deflector assembly. A switch 8-25 is operated by a tab 46 that is rotated about a shaft 48 powered by the upper shaft extension 28. One complete cycling of the deflector assembly 18 will rotate the shaft 48 a single revolution. The tab v46 is manually positionable by a dial 49 in such a manner that the tab 46 will activate theswitch S-25 when the deflector 20 has been recycled to the sheet-receiver 16 corresponding to the setting of the dial 49. Proof fingers 43 may be lowered by a solenoid 42 into the path of the sheets to remove sheets for proofing by guiding them into a tray 10.

The operation of the distributing mechanism and the details of construction thereof are basically identical to the machine described in US. Pat. No. 3,414,254.

The description of the control circuit of FIG. 2 for operating the distributing mechanism 10 will now be described. The distributing mechanism 10 will be used in conjuction with a feeding device, such as a press, copying machine or other printing apparatus, and will be activated by depressing the start switch 8-3, which is a double switch having normally open contacts 8-3-1 and normally closed contacts S-3-2 to energize the power control relay R-l6 between lines L-3 and L-2. The line L4, below the power relay circuit R-16, is also energized through a diode D5 in conjunction with a capacitor C1 to provide DC. voltage in the line L4. Other forms of conventional rectifier circuits may, of course, be employed to produce constant DC. voltage in line L4. Energization of line L4 by the depression of the start switch S-3 also energizes the light 39, which in turn energizes the photocell 40 to complete the circuit through contacts R-l6-l to energize relay R-l1. Closure of the contacts R-l L! by energization of the relay I R-ll energizes the automatic shut-off relay R-l4.

Relay R-16 will remain in the circuit upon the release of the start switch S-3 due to the closure of its own con tacts, R-l6-2, contacts R-l4-l, and the normally closed stop switch S-l. When the start switch S-3 is released the normally closed contacts S-3-2 are closed to energize drive motor relay R- through the now closed contacts R-l6-3. Contacts R-60-l and R-60-2 are closed and contacts R-60-3 and R-60-4 are opened to energize the drive motor M-34. Energization of the 7 drive motor M34 drives the conveyor tapes 12 continuously so as to receive sheets S and feed them through the deflector assembly 18. The entire device may be stopped at any time by pressing the stop switch 8-1 which drops out the relay R-16 and consequently the relays R-ll, R-l4 and R-60 as well as the light source 39.

Assuming that a previous count for a distributing run has been completed, i.e., the prescribed number of sheets have been distributed, the deflector 20 carried by the chains 22 will have reached its uppermost position (in the preferred embodiment) and contacted the arm of the switch S-31. Closing the switch S-31 energizes the relay R-15 which locks itself in through one of its contacts R-15-1 and a normally closed brake set switch S-25. Contacts R-l5-2 are also closed to energize relay R-l3. Contacts R-13-1 are then closed to energize the solenoid of clutch 33 to engage the clutch and contacts R-13-2 are opened to de-energize the solenoid of brake 34 to disengage the brake so that the chains 22 are driven by the motor M-34 to move the deflector 20 through an uninterrupted recycling traverse. The third contacts, R-l5-3, of relay R-lS are also closed to energize the relay R-42. Energization of the relay R-42 closes contacts R-42-2 to energize the proof solenoid 42 lowering the fingers 43 into the path of the oncoming sheets S so that any sheet approaching the sheaves 14 on the conveyor tapes 12 will be diverted into the power tray 44 and will not break the beam of the photocell while the deflector 20 is being recycled.

As soon as the deflector 20 starts its upward travel again it will advance to a position which corresponds to the setting of the dial 49 at which position the brake set switch S-25 will be opened by the tab 46 to drop out the relay R-l5 opening contacts R-lS-l, R-15-2 and R-l5- 3. Opening contacts R-l5-2 de-energizes relay R-13 to open contacts R-l3-1 and close contacts R-l3-2 which in turn causes disengagement of clutch 33 and engagement of the brake 34 to halt the deflector at the desired sheet-receiver 16. Opening of contacts R-15-3 deenergizes relay R-42 to de-energize proof solenoid 42 so that the sheets may again begin their downward travel toward th delfector 20. The distributing mechanism 10 is now again ready for the distribution of sheets into the various sheet-receivers.

Relay R-ll becomes instantaneously de-energized each time a sheet S passes between the photocell 40 and the light source 39. When this occurs contacts R- 1l-1 are opened, however, relay R-14 is provided with a conventional resistance-capacitance delay circuit 60 so that by the time the sheet has passed between the photocell and the light source into a sheet-receiver 16 the relay R-14 is again energized so that contacts R-l4- 1 are not opened and thus motor M-34 remains in operation. At the time the deflector 20 is at its first station the arm of the switch S-138 is in the upper position, as shown in FIG. 2, so that de-energization of relay R-ll by teh passage of a sheet past the deflector 20 closes contacts R-11-2 which energizes the circuit up to point P-3-3 which is connected into the program circuit shown in FIG. 3. Point P-3-3 is eventually connected to point P-3-4 when the desired number of sheets, as determined by the program circuit, have been delivered to the selected sheet-receiver 16. Assuming that the desired number of sheets have been delivered and the signal is received at P-3-4, relay R-IZ gets energized to latch itself in by its own contacts R-l2-l. Contacts R- 12-2 are also closed so that after the sheet S has passed the beam of the photocell 40 and relay R-ll is again energized contacts R-1I-3 become closed to energize relay R-13. As mentioned previously energization of relay R-l3 engages the clutch 33 and disengages the brake 34 to index the deflector 20 upward toward the next sheet receiver. As the chains 22 are moved to index the deflector 20 the cam 37 is rotated to remove the arm of the switch 138 from a cam lobe 37a and positions the arm of the switch S-138 into the lower position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Switch S-138 is a microswitch which has an arm that changes its position from the upper to the lower contacts instantaneously. Moving the arm of the switch 5-138 to the dotted line position de-energizes the relay R-l2; however, R-13 remains energized by the circuit through switch 8-138 and diode D4. As the chains continue to move the deflector 20 the arm of the switch S-l38 again rides up on one of the cam lobes 37a to reposition it in its solid line position opening the circuit through diode D4 to drop relay R-l3 out of the circuit. At this time the clutch 33 becomes disengaged and the brake 34 engaged stopping the deflector at the next sheet-receiver, it being understood that one-half revolution of the cam 37 is the equivalent of the spacing between two adjacent sheet-receivers 16. The foregoing operation repeats itself until the deflector 20 has again contacted the arm of the count complete switch 8-31.

The deflector 20 may be manually controlled by depressing switch S-2 which closes contacts S-2-1 to energize relay R-l2 and upon release of the switch closes contacts S-2-2 to energize relay R-13. The indexing sequence then follows the foregoing procedure.

The deflector 20 may also be recycled at any desired time during the normal operating cycle by closing recycle switch S-28 which energizes relay R-l5 the same as if the count complete switch S-3l had been closed.

A proof switch S-203 is provided to selectively energize the relay R-42 to energize proof solenoid 42 so that sheets S may be removed for proofing prior to moving the deflector 20 to its next sheet-receiver.

The program control circuit is illustrated in FIG. 3 with the reference characters P-3-1 through P-3-6 and P-3-9 being connected to the control circuit shown in FIG. 2 at the corresponding similarly identified points. The purpose of the program circuit is to allow the operator to determine the number of sheets S to be delivered to each sheet-receiver 16 from the press or feeder. This is accomplished by manually presetting a crossbar switch or matrix having sets of upper and lower contact strips 72 and 74, respectively. If desired, automatically controlled programming devices could be used. A typical crossbar switch is manufactured by Cherry Electrical Products Corporation, Highland Park, Illinois. Basically this type of switch employs a series of manually positioned contacts 75 that connect individual strips of the top level 72 with those of the lower level 74. In the preferred form the switch has provisions for 26 contact strips on the lower level and I0 strips on the upper level with the 26 strips on the lower level corresponding to 26 sheet-receivers l6 and the ten strips on the upper level representing from zero to nine sheets. By manually placing a contact 75 at the desired coordinates the number of sheets delivered to each sheet-receiver is established. Zero sheets, that is a skipped sheet receiver, is accomplished by placing the contact 75 at the upper level strip indicated as zero as illustrated for example at station No. 2. In this position the deflector 20 will skip station No. 2 delivering no sheets thereto. The strips 72 are joined to a circuit 75 by a sheet-stepping contact 77. The sheet stepping contact 77 is stepped around to'various contacts or terminals numbered 1-11 by a conventional stepping coil to be later described. The lower strip 74 and thus an upper strip 72 when in contact with a lower strip 74 are connected to a circuit 78 via station-stepping contact 79 and a diode D3. The station-stepping contact 79 is of the type that is stepped by a spring each time its coil is de-energized. A suitable switch is manufactured by Automatic Electric as a Type 45 Rotary Stepping Switch. Further details of the operation of the stationstepping contact 79 will be given herein below. Each time the station-stepping contact 79 advances the sheet-stepping contact 77 is horned to the first position as illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 3. When the deflector has reached an end of its cycle both stepping contacts 77 and 79 are returned to home positions, i.e., first positions. Unless changed by changing the position of a movable contact 75 the program is ready to be repeated.

The program circuit of FIG. 3 is inserted at points in the control circuit of FIG. 2 and particularly at point P-3-3 so that the signal which causes the deflector bar 20 to be indexed to a next station after a sheet has been fed into a sheet-receiver 16 is fed into program circuit at point P-3-4. Thus when the contact of the collatesort switch 80 is moved from terminal 81 to terminal 82 points P-3-3 and P-3-4 will be directly connected and the program circuit will be effectively bypassed so that the control circuit of FIG. 2 operates in its normal manner.

The index signal being utilized at point P-3-3 is an appropriate positive DC. voltage, transmitted when a sheet S begins entrance between the light 39 and the photocell 40. When the contact of the collate-sort switch 80 is placed on terminal 81 this DC. voltage is applied to relay C through isolating diode D1, line 84, interrupter contacts 85, normally closed contacts R-l2- 3, and line 86 to point P-3-9 which is connected to line L-2 in the control circuit. Relay C pulls in and latches through a set of its own contacts G1 which connects the high side of its coil to a steady source of positive voltage at point P-3-3. At the same time contacts C-2 are closed in the return circuit of the sheet stepper coil 87. Since this coil is connected, on the high side, to the steady source of positive DC. voltage at point P-3-2 (See FIG. 2), it is now ready to be energized when the return circuit is completed through isolating diode D2 and a normaly open set of contacts R-l 1-4 of the relay R-] 1.

When the trailing edge of the sheet 5 enters the sheet-receiver l6 and thus no longer breaks the beam between the light 39 and the photocell 40 the relay R-ll is again energized to close the contacts R-ll-4 completing the return circuit of the coil 87 and advancing the sheet-stepper contact 77 one position. The interrupter points 85 on the coil are momentarily opened when this happens dropping out relay C the drop-out of which is retarded by resistor-capacitor delay circuit 88 across its coil in order to make certain that the sheet-stepper contact 77 has sufficient time to complete its step.

The foregoing sequence is repeated until the sheetstepper contact 77 reaches the contact strip 72 on the crossbar switch 70 which is shorted by a contact 75 to the lower contact strip 74 on which the station-stepper contact 79 is resting. At this time the index signal at P-3-3 is connected through the sheet-stepper contact 77, the contact strips 72 and -74, through the stationstepper contact 79 and thence through isolating diode D3 to line 78 and to point P-3-4 allowing the deflector bar 20 to be indexed one station. At the instant that the index signal arrives at point P-3-4 the relay R-l2 becomes energized dropping out relay C by opening contacts R-l2-3.

The reset signal for the sheet-stepper contact 77 is an appropriate DC voltage taken from the portion of the control circuit energizing relay R-13 and appearing at P-3-5 when the deflector 20 is endexed. This signal is applied to the reset coil 89 through the contacts 90 which completes the circuit only when the stepper is not in home position. The return circuit for this coil 89 is through a normally closed set of contacts C-3, isolating diode D2, a normally open set of contacts R-ll-4 of the relay R-l 1, line 86 to point 3-9 at line L-2 of the control circuit. Since relay C is dropped out as described above when the relay R-12 is energized (contacts R-12-3 opened) the return circuit to the coil 87 is opened, the return circuit to the reset coil 89 is closed, thus homing the sheet-stepper contact 77 in a conventional manner.

The signal for stepping the station-stepper contact 79 is an appropriate positive DC. voltage taken directly from the point P-3-ll in the line connected by switch S-l38. The signal is applied to the high side of the station stepper coil 91 through a normally closed set of contacts R-3 of relay R. Contacts R-3 when opened prevent the station-stepper contact 79 from advancing beyond the home position when the station-stepper contact is being reset to home position.

It will be noted that the lower strip contact 72 representing zero sheets is connected to point P-3-l through normally closed relay contacts R-l. An appropriate DC. signal appears at point P-3-l from the control circuit in FIG. 2 whenever the arm of the index switch S-l38 is in the solid line position, that is, with the deflector 20 in position to feed a sheet at a station 16. Therefore, whenever the strip 72 representing zero sheets is connected to a lower strip 74 by a contact this signal is applied, through the station-stepper contact 79, isolating diode D3, line 78, to point P-3-4 causing the deflector 20 to be indexed immediately without deflecting a sheet S at the station.

A.unique feature of the invention is the use of an anticipating device to insure a smooth skip by the deflector assembly 18 by keeping the relay R-13 energized constantly until the desired number of receiveng stations have been skipped. This prevents the instantaneous application of the brake and disenagement of the clutch at each station which in a series of consecutive skipped stations would produce an annoying jerky operation. To assure a smooth skip when more than one station is skipped the station-stepper is provided with a second level B of terminals one to 25 that are joined respectively to germinals two to 26 of level A. The station-stepper contact 79 has corresponding level B station-stepper contact 79a which moves conjointly with the contact 79. Consequently when station-stepper contact 79 is connected to its terminal one at level A, contact 79a is connected to terminal two at level B. In other words, each contact or terminal of level B of this switch is so wired that it looks one terminal and thus one station ahead on the level A of the switch. Since a programmed demand for zero sheets connects the positive voltage at P-3-1 through the strip contacts 72 and 74 to the selected terminal at level A, this voltage is also seen one station in advance by level B of the station-stepper contact 79a, and is applied to energize a relay SSA through a line 94. The return circuit of relay SSA is completed through an isolating diode D6 to point P-3-9 at line L2. Energization of relay SSA closes contacts SSA-l connecting the steady source of DC. voltage at P-3-2 to the zero strip contact 72 thus maintaining a steady source of DC. voltage at P-3-4 until such time as the station-stepper contact 79a of level B no longer sees a voltage. Level B no longer sees a voltage indicating a skip at the next station when the terminal to which it is connected is a strip contact 74 that is not connected to a zero upper strip contact due to the absence of a contact 75. (In other words, contact 75 has been placed to distribute sheets to that particular station.) As a result of this operation a jerky skip is prevented since the clutch remains engaged and the brake remains desengaged solong as the next succeeding station is also to be skipped. If desired the anticipation can be of several stations in advance, rather than a single station, to sense other advanced conditions.

The upper strip contact 72 representing a sheet distribution of one to a particular sheet-receiver is connected directly to point P-3-3 by a line 95. The sheetstepper contact 77 is in an off (open) position for a sheet delivery of one. Thus when a single sheet is programmed for any sheet-receiver 16, the sheet stepper contact 77 is by-passed and the deflector assembly 18 and the control circuit, in effect, operate in a normal fashion with indexing of the deflector 20 to the next station occurring after the delivery of a single sheet.

There is no strip contact 72 corresponding to sheets. The number 10 terminal of the sheet stepper is connected directly to the terminal 81 of the collate-sort switch 80 via a jumper line 96, and the line 78. This thereby routes the index signal directly to point P-3-4 on the ocunt of 10 thus indexing the deflector 20.

The signal for resetting the station-stepper contact 79 and 79a is taken from the same source as the reset signal for the sheet-stepper contact 77. It is applied through a normally open set of contacts R-2 of the relay R, through contact 97 which is normally open only when the station-stepper contact 79 reaches home or station one position and the interrupter contacts 92 to the high side of the station stepper coil 91. The return circuit to energize the coil is, as previously described, through contact C-3, diode D2, contacts R-ll- 4, line 86, to point P-3-9 at line L2. Due to the action of the interrupter contacts 92, the station stepper contacts 79 and 79a will move around to home position when the contact 97 is open to break the circuit. Unwanted currents generated by the inductance of the step coil 91 during the rapid making and breaking of the circuit by the interrupter contacts 92 are dissipated by a varistor 98 across the coil 91. The signal to energize the relay R is received through point P-3-6, from the high side of relay R-l5 in the control circuit of FIG. 2. A signal to energize relay R is received at point P-3-6 when the deflector is being recycled to begin another traverse. A resistor-capacitor delay circuit 100 is applied across the coil of relay R to delay the dropping out of this relay long enough to insure that the stepper contact 79 does not accidentally advance one step. This insurance is provided by the normally closed contact R-3 and in the positive D.C. supply circuit from P-3-l by the contacts R-l.

As is readily apparent to one skilled in the art various modifications in the individual components of the various circuits may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the proper interpretation of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a sheet distributing device for placing a plurality of sheets of paper or the like into a plurality of stations, programmed control means having sheet direction means for directing the insertion of sheets into the stations and supplementary sheet control means, said control means including a multiplicity of circuits each representing a source of control information for directing the insertion of sheets into selected designated stations, the improvement comprising anticipating means having first means for sensing the information on successive circuits and actuating said sheet direction means for insertion of sheets into the stations, and second means for sensing the information on successive circuits in advance of said first means simultaneously with said first means and actuating said supplementary sheet control means in response to the presence of predetermined information on said advanced circuits.

2. The device of claim 1 said first means intermittently actuating said sheet direction means and said supplementary sheet control means including means for continuously actuating said sheet direction means to avoid said interruption of the actuation of said sheet direction means.

3. The device of claim 2 said circuits including a crossbar switch having a plurality of lower contact strips and a plurality of upper contact strips intersecting said lower contact strips but unconnected thereto, and contact interconducting means for connecting the upper and lower contact strips at selected intersecting locations.

4. The device of claim 3 said first means including a plurality of primary fixed contacts and a first movable contact, successively engagable with said primary fixed contacts, said second means including a plurality of corresponding secondary fixed contacts jointed to said primary fixed contacts and a second movable contact successively engagable with said secondary fixed contacts, said secondary fixed contacts being wired to said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said corresponding primary fixed contacts so that said second movable contact senses information from said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said first movable contact.

5. The device of claim 1 said first means including a plurality of primary fixed contacts and a first movable contact successively engagable with said primary fixed contacts, said second means including a plurality of corresponding secondary fixed contacts joined to said primary fixed contacts and a second movable contact successively engagable with said secondary fixed contacts, said secondary fixed contacts being wired to said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said corresponding primary fixed contacts so that said second movable contact senses information from said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said first movable contact.

* k t r 

1. In a sheet distributing device for placing a plurality of sheets of paper or the like into a plurality of stations, programmed control means having sheet direction means for directing the insertion of sheets into the stations and supplementary sheet control means, said control means including a multiplicity of circuits each representing a source of control information for directing the insertion of sheets into selected designated stations, the improvement comprising anticipating means having first means for sensing the information on successive circuits and actuating said sheet direction means for insertion of sheets into the stations, and second means for sensing the information on successive circuits in advance of said first means simultaneously with said first means and actuating said supplementary sheet control means in response to the presence of predetermined information on said advanced circuits.
 2. The device of claim 1 said first means intermittently actuating said sheet direction means and said supplementary sheet cOntrol means including means for continuously actuating said sheet direction means to avoid said interruption of the actuation of said sheet direction means.
 3. The device of claim 2 said circuits including a crossbar switch having a plurality of lower contact strips and a plurality of upper contact strips intersecting said lower contact strips but unconnected thereto, and contact interconducting means for connecting the upper and lower contact strips at selected intersecting locations.
 4. The device of claim 3 said first means including a plurality of primary fixed contacts and a first movable contact, successively engagable with said primary fixed contacts, said second means including a plurality of corresponding secondary fixed contacts jointed to said primary fixed contacts and a second movable contact successively engagable with said secondary fixed contacts, said secondary fixed contacts being wired to said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said corresponding primary fixed contacts so that said second movable contact senses information from said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said first movable contact.
 5. The device of claim 1 said first means including a plurality of primary fixed contacts and a first movable contact successively engagable with said primary fixed contacts, said second means including a plurality of corresponding secondary fixed contacts joined to said primary fixed contacts and a second movable contact successively engagable with said secondary fixed contacts, said secondary fixed contacts being wired to said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said corresponding primary fixed contacts so that said second movable contact senses information from said primary fixed contacts at least one contact ahead of said first movable contact. 